Adjustable floor and ceiling supported chinning bar

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for installation between a floor and ceiling comprised of two vertical members having rectangular cross sections with frictional caps engaging the floor at their lower ends and a vertical angle for each of the vertical members connected at their upper ends by bolts for longitudinally and laterally engaging with two sides of the vertical members and having a number of equally spaced holes longitudinally disposed through their frontal sides, each of the vertical angles provided with a spring, spring plunger, and spring chamber connected at their upper ends, the spring plungers being provided with frictional caps engaging the ceiling whereby the vertical members with their frictional caps engaging the floor and the vertical angles are supported exclusively by and between the floor and ceiling; a round horizontal hand bar extending across and between the vertical angles is connected thereto by a U-shaped bolt extending through each vertical angle and secured with wing nuts, the wing nuts being removably secured to each end of the U-shaped bolts so as to allow for adjustment in the height of the horizontal bar.

United States Patent [151 3,642,278

Hinckley Feb. 15, 1972 54] ADJUSTABLE FLOOR AND CEILING 242,551 11/1925Great Britain ..248/356 [72] Inventor: John D. Ilinckley, 9302Sharpcrest,

Houston, Tex. 77036 [22] Filed: July 20,1970

21 Appl.No.: 56,395

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.668,135, Sept. 15,

[52] U.S.Cl ..272/62. [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 1/02 [58] FieldotSearch..272/62,81,84; 248/230, 356

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,486 1/1914 Rosenberger..272/62 2,991,040 7/1961 Levy ..248/356 3,190,648 6/1965 Kallenbach.248/230X 3,291,434 12/1966 Whitechester ..248/356 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 14,313 9/1907 Great Britain ..272/62 SUPPORTED CHINNING BARPrimary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stoufi'er [57] ABSTRACT An exercising device for installation between a floor andceiling comprised of two vertical members having rectangular crosssections with frictional caps engaging the floor at their lower ends anda vertical angle for each of the vertical mcm bers connected at theirupper ends by bolts for longitudinally and laterally engaging with twosides of the vertical members and having a number of equally spacedholes longitudinally disposed through their frontal sides, each of thevertical angles provided with a spring, spring plunger, and springchamber connected at their upper ends, the spring plungers beingprovided with frictional caps engaging the ceiling whereby the verticalmembers with their frictional caps engaging the floor and the verticalangles are supported exclusively by and between the floor and ceiling; around horizontal hand bar extending across and between the verticalangles is connected thereto by a U-shaped bolt extending through eachvertical angle and secured with wing nuts, the wing nuts being removablysecured to each end of the U-shaped bolts so as to allow for adjustmentin the height of the horizontal bar.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures loooqooodoo00 booqqooooooooooao lPAIENTEUFEB 15 I972 SHEEY 3 [IF 3 E L K C m H D N H O J INVENTOR.

ADJUSTABLE FLOOR AND CEILING SUPPORTED CHINNING BAR This application isa continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 668,135,filed Sept. 15, 1967, for the improvement in the Chinning Bar Apparatus,which will now be permitted to lapse without prejudice, in view of itsbeing superseded by this application. Claim 2 in the present applicationand the Abstract of the Disclosure are common to both applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the veryold chinning bar structures found in schools, public gymnasiums and inthe garages of homes. It particularly pertains to the horizontal handbar adjustably attached to vertical structural members for exercisingthe human torso. Specifically, the invention is an improvement in themode and means of construction and installation, being intended toprovide a prefabricated knocked-down apparatus that is lightweight, easyto assemble without tools, and capable of being installed almost anyplace in the home between a floor and ceiling.

Before this invention, it was necessary to custom build a floorsupported chinning bar structure and fix it with fasteners to thebuilding where it was to be erected. Until the present invention, it wasnot known that spring-loaded vertical members bearing against theceiling could be used to safely support a horizontal bar with a movingload placed upon it because it was not realized that sufficient forcecould be brought to bear against such ceilings as sheetrock forstabilizing the vertical members. In the analogous art such as polelamps, pole stands, and other pole structures, none of these accommodatea moving load.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention is comprised substantially of twovertical legs supporting horizontally an adjustable hand bar, thevertical legs with frictional means at extreme ends thereof beingsupported exclusively by and between a floor and ceiling. The verticallegs .are constructed in two parts, the vertical member being the lowerpart and the vertical extension member being the upper part. Thevertical members are identical or opposite hand, having rectangulartubular cross sections and frictional means at their lower ends forengaging the floor; the frictional means comprising a round bar fittedinto a frictional cap and both fitted into each of the vertical membersto bear against their inside surfaces with the caps projecting therefromto engage the floor. At the upper ends of the vertical members, two setsof three holes are longitudinally disposed in pairs on the frontal andrear sides therethrough and coincident therewith. The upper part of thevertical legs, the vertical extension members, extend above the verticalmembers and have angle cross sections with a number of equally spacedholes therein longitudinally disposed on the frontal faces therethroughand are connected adjustably for longitudinal and lateral engagement tothe vertical members by bolt means. The two sets of three holes at theupper ends of the vertical members are spaced such that each pair ofholes comprises incremental spacings between two consecutive holes inthe vertical extension members, allowing incremental adjustment in theengaged length of the vertical members with the vertical extensionmembers for obtaining the desired length of the vertical legs forfitting to various ceiling heights. A rectangular tube for each of thevertical extension members in connected by bolt means thereto at theupper ends thereof, each tube being engaged longitudinally with thevertical extension members. Each tube contains a helical spring, bearingagainst the bolt means at its lower end, and frictional means comprisedof a round bar with a frictional cap thereon which bears against thespring at its lower end and compresses the spring when the frictionalcap at the other end bears against the ceiling.

A round horizontal bar extending across and between the verticalextension members is connected thereto by U-shaped bolt means extendingthrough the equally spaced holes in each vertical extension memberto'support each end of the bar, the U-shaped bolt means having wing nutsremovably secured to each end thereof so as to allow adjustment of theheight of the bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal elevation;

FIG. 2, including FIG. 2A, is a broken vertical section, being typicalin opposite hand relationship, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

-FIG. 3 is a typical horizontal section, taken on lines 3-3 and 3A3A ofFIG. I; I

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section, being typical in opposite handrelationship, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section, being typical in opposite handrelationship, taken on lines 5-5 and 5A5A of FIG. I.

In the drawings as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus is comprisedsubstantially of two vertical legs extending between the floor F and theceiling C with a round horizontal bar 4 connected thereto. The verticallegs are comprised substantially of two parts, the lower part called thevertical members I, and the upper part called the vertical extensionmembers 2. In FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the vertical members I have rectangulartubular cross sections and are taperingly crimped concavely at theirlower ends to seat floor engaging frictional means at said ends, thefrictional means being comprised of a round bar 8 fitted into africtional cap 9, which has a conically shaped exterior surface, suchthat may be both fitted into the lower end of each vertical member 1 tobear against the inside surfaces thereof with the frictional cap 9projecting therefrom and thereby engage the floor F. In FIG. 2, at theupper end of the vertical members 1, it will be noted that two sets ofthree holes designated X1, Y1, Z1, and X2, Y2, 22 are provided for bolts6 and wingnuts 7.

The upper part of the vertical legs, the vertical extension members 2,which have angle cross sections, extend above the vertical members I andlongitudinally and laterally engage therewith on two sides thereof,being connected thereto by bolts 6 and secured by wingnuts 7, as shownin FIG. 2. On the frontal side of the extension members 2, a series ofequally spaced holes H are disposed longitudinally in line thereon forthe full length thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A. These holes Hprovide a threefold utility, one of which is the longitudinal adjustablebolted engagement of the vertical members I with the vertical extensionmembers 2. Holes X1 and X2, Y1 and Y2, Z1 and 22 in the vertical membersI, as indicated in FIG. 2, are employed to incrementally adjust anylongitudinal length requirement falling between the equally spaced holesH in the vertical extension members 2 and thereby allowing frictionalinch adjustment for varying ceiling heights.

A second utility of the equally spaced holes H in the verticallyextension members 2 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 5 wherein the rectangulartubes 3 with holes therein, engage the vertical extension members 2 attheir upper ends and are connected by bolts 6 extending through holes Hand secured by wing nuts 7. The rectangular tubes 3, together withsprings 10 substantially comprise the spring means at the upper ends ofthe vertical extension members 2. The upper frictional means iscomprised of a round bar 8 fitted into a conically shaped frictional cap9, both of which are fitted into rectangular tube 3 which is taperinglycrimped concavely at its upper end to facilitate seating with the barbearing against spring 10 at its lower end with cap 9 projectingtherefrom and engaging the ceiling C thereby.

In FIGS. 1, 2A, and 4, a round horizontal bar 4 extends across andbetween the vertical extension members 2, each end of which is supportedby U-shaped bolts 5 extending through a pair of equally spaced holes Hin each vertical extension member 2, the U-shaped bolts 5 having wingnuts 7 removably secured to each end thereof for adjusting the height ofhorizontal bar 4.

In FIG. 1, the relative lowest position of the horizontal bar (4) isindicated in dashed lines.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device for installation between a floor and ceilingcomprising: two vertical members having floor engaging frictional meansat their lower ends; a vertical extension means for each of saidvertical members connected to the upper ends thereof by bolts means andlongitudinally and laterally engaging said vertical members; each ofsaid extension means extending above said vertical members and having anumber of equally spaced holes therethrough disposed longitudinally inline thereon and spring means at the upper end thereof; said springmeans having upper frictional means to engage the ceiling whereby saidvertical members and said extension means are supported verticallyexclusively by and between the said upper and lower frictional means; around horizontal bar, U-shaped bolt means, and wing nuts wherein saidbar extends across and between said vertical extension means and isconnected thereto; said last connection comprising a said U-shaped boltmeans extending through said spaced holes in each extension means tosupport each end of said bar, said wing nuts being removably secured toeach end of the U- shaped bolt means so as to allow adjustment of theheight of said bar.

2. An exercising device for installation between a floor and ceilingcomprising: two identical vertical members having rectangular crosssections and floor engaging lower frictional means at their lower ends;a vertical angle means for each of said vertical members connected tothe upper ends thereof by bolt means and longitudinally and laterallyengaging said vertical members on two sides thereof; each of said anglemeans extending above said vertical members and having a number ofequally spaced holes therethrough disposed longitudinally thereon andspring means at the upper end thereof; said spring means having upperfrictional means to engage the ceiling whereby said vertical members andsaid vertical angle means are supported vertically exclusively by andbetween the said upper and lower frictional means; a round horizontalbar, U- shaped bolt means, and wing nuts wherein said bar extendsbetween said vertical angle means and is connected thereto; said lastconnection comprising a U-shaped bolt means extending through saidspaced holes in each angle means to support each end of said bar. saidwing nuts being removably secured to each end of the U-shaped bolt meansso as to allow adjustment of the height of said bar.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 2 in which said twoidentical vertical members have rectangular tubular cross sections withfloor-engaging lower frictional means contained within the lower endsthereof, said frictional means comprised of a round bar fitted into africtional cap with conical exterior surface, said bar and cap fittedinto each of said vertical members to bear against the inside surface atthe lower ends thereof allowing the projection of the frictional captherefrom and engaging the floor thereby.

4. An exercising device as defined in claim 3 in which said verticalextension means having angle cross sections and spring means with upperfrictional means at the upper ends thereof, said spring means comprisedof rectangular tube for each of said vertical extension means engaginglongitudinally and laterally therewith and connected by bolt means tothe upper ends thereof and a helical spring contained in eachrectangular tube bearing against said bolt means at its lower end; saidfrictional means comprised of a round bar fitted into a frictional capwith conical exterior surface, a said bar fitting into each saidrectangular tube with cap projecting therefrom. said bar bearing againstsaid spring so as to allow the compressing thereof and engage theceiling thereby.

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 in which said upperfrictional means and said lower frictional means are comprised of saidround bar fitted into said frictional cap with conical exterior surface,said bar and cap being fitted into rectangular tubular enclosures, saidenclosures forming the extreme upper ends of said spring means andforming the extreme lower ends of said vertical members, said rectan ular tubular enclosures having four internal surfaces therein w lCh aretaperingly crimped concavely to fit said conical shaped frictional capfor seating therein.

1. An exercising device for installation between a floor and ceilingcomprising: two vertical members having floor engaging frictional meansat their lower ends; a vertical extension means for each of saidvertical members connected to the upper ends thereof by bolts means andlongitudinally and laterally engaging said vertical members; each ofsaid extension means extending above said vertical members and having anumber of equally spaced holes therethrough disposed longitudinally inline thereon and spring means at the upper end thereof; said springmeans having upper frictional means to engage the ceiling whereby saidvertical members and said extension means are supported verticallyexclusively by and between the said upper and lower frictional means; around horizontal bar, U-shaped bolt means, and wing nuts wherein saidbar extends across and between said vertical extension means and isconnected thereto; said last connection comprising a said U-shaped boltmeans extending through said spaced holes in each extension means tosupport each end of said bar, said wing nuts being removably secured toeach end of the U-shaped bolt means so as to allow adjustment of theheight of said bar.
 2. An exercising device for installation between afloor and ceiling comprising: two identical vertical members havingrectangular cross sections and floor engaging lower frictional means attheir lower ends; a vertical angle means for each of said verticalmembers connected to the upper ends thereof by bolt means andlongitudinally and laterally engaging said vertical members on two sidesthereof; each of said angle means extending above said vertical membersand having a number of equally spaced holes therethrough disposedlongitudinally thereon and spring means at the upper end thereof; saidspring means having upper frictional means to engage the ceiling wherebysaid vertical members and said vertical angle means are supportedvertically exclusively by and between the said upper and lowerfrictional means; a round horizontal bar, U-shAped bolt means, and wingnuts wherein said bar extends between said vertical angle means and isconnected thereto; said last connection comprising a U-shaped bolt meansextending through said spaced holes in each angle means to support eachend of said bar, said wing nuts being removably secured to each end ofthe U-shaped bolt means so as to allow adjustment of the height of saidbar.
 3. An exercising device as defined in claim 2 in which said twoidentical vertical members have rectangular tubular cross sections withfloor-engaging lower frictional means contained within the lower endsthereof, said frictional means comprised of a round bar fitted into africtional cap with conical exterior surface, said bar and cap fittedinto each of said vertical members to bear against the inside surface atthe lower ends thereof allowing the projection of the frictional captherefrom and engaging the floor thereby.
 4. An exercising device asdefined in claim 3 in which said vertical extension means having anglecross sections and spring means with upper frictional means at the upperends thereof, said spring means comprised of rectangular tube for eachof said vertical extension means engaging longitudinally and laterallytherewith and connected by bolt means to the upper ends thereof and ahelical spring contained in each rectangular tube bearing against saidbolt means at its lower end; said frictional means comprised of a roundbar fitted into a frictional cap with conical exterior surface, a saidbar fitting into each said rectangular tube with cap projectingtherefrom, said bar bearing against said spring so as to allow thecompressing thereof and engage the ceiling thereby.
 5. An exercisingdevice as defined in claim 4 in which said upper frictional means andsaid lower frictional means are comprised of said round bar fitted intosaid frictional cap with conical exterior surface, said bar and capbeing fitted into rectangular tubular enclosures, said enclosuresforming the extreme upper ends of said spring means and forming theextreme lower ends of said vertical members, said rectangular tubularenclosures having four internal surfaces therein which are taperinglycrimped concavely to fit said conical shaped frictional cap for seatingtherein.